Line Element Lead-Through

ABSTRACT

In order to produce a line element lead-through that is resistant to fire and flue gas for simple installation into one or more paneled drywalls, whereby the line element lead-through can be used in a matching component opening and is also sealed against fire and flue gas when empty, a line element lead-through is suggested with a molded element closed on at least one side of an elastically deformable intumescent material as a sleeve, especially formed as a truncated cone or a cylinder, with the criterion that the opening cross section of the sleeve corresponds to maximum 60% of the cross section of the component pass-through.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to German Patent Application DE10 2011 004 575.9, filed Feb. 23, 2011, and entitled“Leitungselementdurchfuhrung” (“Line Element Lead-Through”), which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a line element lead-through that issealed against fire and flue gas for passages in walls and ceilings, theinvention especially relates to a line lead-through of an intumescentfoam.

For fire protection purposes, lead-throughs of line elements, e.g. pipesor cables or the like, through walls or ceilings must be provided with aso-called barrier or a fitting in order to prevent flames and especiallysmoke and poisonous gases from spreading from room to room or betweenfloors if there is a fire.

In the fittings of rooms, the lead-throughs and lead-through openingsfor cables, pipes and the like are problematic since they were notinstalled until after completion of the entire installation, i.e.retrofit, and also can only be retrofitted after the routing of thecables and pipes.

In many cases, the wall lead-throughs either remain open or are onlyclosed in a preliminary manner with mineral wool or stone wool cut tosize. In order to pass the cables and lines through, these stoppers mustbe removed again, whereby after the lines and cables are passed through,the lead-throughs have to finally be closed using fire-resistant mortar,stone wool or mineral wool inserts.

However, it is often necessary that lines must be routed long after theinstallation is complete. This is the case, above all, when new roomsare produced in older buildings. For this purpose, drywall is oftenused. However, even during remodeling and/or renovation of publicbuildings, schools, hospitals, office buildings and special buildings,drywalls are created more and more frequently. The firewalls are oftensuch drywalls. The drywalls often are made of sandwich-type plasterboardand are hollow or filled with mineral wool. Therefore, it is possible toroute installations, especially distribution of cables, in these walls.

In addition to the classic cable lead-throughs, cables are frequentlythreaded out from these walls. For smaller individual cables, nocomplicated fire protection measures must be taken. Sealing with plasteror sealing compound is sufficient. Thicker cables, small cable bundles,empty pipes or several individual cables would have to be sealeddepending on the configuration, with the approved fire protectionsystem. The rules on how all of this must be designed are different, sothe skilled tradesman is uncertain during the installation of how theline lead-through must be sealed. In addition, to date it was necessaryto close the line lead-throughs so that they are sealed against fire andflue gas immediately after installation of the cables. During productionof lead-throughs in fire-resistant components that are only equippedwith lines much later, the problem resulted that up to the time theopenings are equipped they have to be sealed so that they are fire-tightand sealed against flue gas. Equipping the openings required severalwork steps for leading the lines through and sealing the spaces thatdeveloped again so they are sealed against fire and flue gas. To date,this has not been possible using simple devices.

The cable boxes that were previously commonly used are complicated,especially when later fitting them with cables and/or pipes. Thedifficulty arises in that the (subsequent) openings have to be sealedagainst flue gas.

EP 0321664 discloses a seal for lead-throughs in walls, ceilings, etc.that is sealed against flue gas and fire that includes a molded elementdesigned as a conical stopper of an elastically deformable intumescentmaterial. The stopper is deformable with dimensional stability so it canbe pressed through the lead-through and can seal it tightly. In thestopper, lead-through holes can be formed for sealed holding of pipesand/or lines. However, the lead-through holes must be adapted to therespective pipe and/or line diameters, in order to be able to sealtightly. Thus, a considerable amount of work is required for subsequentequipping of the stopper with cables or lines, which makes the systeminflexible and susceptible to errors. When they are equipped withseveral cables or lines, the problem also results that because of itsthickness the material does not seal the gussets and gaps that occur, sothese have to additionally be sealed with special sealing compounds.

An arrangement for a lead-through of a long molded part through a wallthat is sealed against flue gas is known from EP 2 273 637 A2. The fireprotection element includes a sleeve of intumescent material or aplastic sleeve with an inner and/or outer coating of intumescentmaterial. However, the arrangement itself is not sealed against fluegas, so it cannot be used if the component lead-through is not equipped.In addition, the arrangement has the disadvantage that equipping it withseveral long molded parts (line elements) is impossible because of theless flexible sleeve.

Generally, compliance with the 60% rule for cable seals with officialapproval causes great problems, according to which only up to max. 60%of the opening cross section must be filled with cables for openings infirewalls and ceilings. In practice, this is difficult to evaluate whenthis limit is reached or exceeded.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, one or more embodiments of the present invention are based onthe object of providing a line element lead-through that is simple indesign, easy to handle and cost-effective for lead-throughs in componentparts like fire protection ceilings and walls that can be installed in asimple way after creation of the components and permits a sealing of thelead-throughs that is fire and flue gas resistant even if thelead-throughs are not equipped.

According to one or more embodiments of the invention, this object isachieved in that the line element lead-through is characterized by amolded element of an elastically deformable intumescent materialdesigned as a sleeve and closed on at least one side.

Advantageous further developments of the one or more embodiments of thepresent invention can be found in the subclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows a line element lead-through according to a first embodimentaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cross section through the line element lead-through shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a cross section through a line element lead-throughaccording to FIG. 1 inserted in a component opening equipped with acable;

FIG. 4 shows a line element lead-through according to a secondembodiment according to the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a cross section through a line element lead-throughaccording to FIG. 4 inserted in a component opening and equipped with acable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the sense of one or more embodiments of the present invention, thefollowing definitions are used:

“elastically deformable” means that the material of which the lineelement lead-through is made of is sufficiently elastic so that pressingit together is possible without problems, i.e. without exerting a greatdeal of force, say by hand, and the line element lead-through againassumes its original shape;

“form fitting” means that the line element lead-through contacts theinner wall of the component lead-through directly not only in one spotbut over a certain area and forms a contact surface;

“intumescent material” means an intumescent foam material thatcarbonizes at temperatures starting at approx. 150° C. and/or the effectof flame with multiple increases in volume; an intumescent materialaccording to one or more embodiments of the present invention that canbe used is described, for example, in DE 3917518 or U.S. Pat. No.3,574,664;

“ash forming” means that the foam carbonizes without significantintumescence;

“line element” means cables like electrical cables, lines, empty pipes,pipes, bundles of lines or pipes and the like;

“seal” means that in a one-piece hollow molded element, the base and/orthe cover surface is closed;

“opening cross section” means the cross section of the line elementlead-through that can be equipped with cables.

The line element lead-through according to one or more embodiments ofthe present invention is advantageously formed so that it can be slidmanually into a circular or oval passage through the wall. Because of aslight excess dimension of the shape designed as a sleeve and theelastically deformable material, after sliding in, the line elementfeed-through contacts the inner wall of the passage with a specifiedpressure and seals it. More precisely, this is achieved when the outerdiameter of the line element lead-through is somewhat larger than thatof the diameter of the component opening. Preferably the outer diameteris 1 to 5 mm larger than the diameter of the component opening, andgreatly preferred 2 to 3 mm.

The elastically deformable material of which this is made of also makespossible sealing against fire and flue gas after the introduction of atleast one line. The cables passed through compress the pierced wall ofthe line element lead-through and thus generate an extensive sealingagainst flue gas.

The general construction approval no. Z-19.15-349 prescribes that theentire permissible cross section of the installation, related to therespective outer dimensions, must be no more than 60% of the roughopening in total, the so-called 60% rule. Accordingly, the line elementlead-through according to one or more embodiments of the presentinvention is designed so that the free opening of the truncated conecorresponds to the opening cross section and thus 60% of the crosssection of the component opening. Thus, the opening of the truncatedcone can be filled completely with line elements without violating the60% rule. Cables and empty pipes are led through individually or asbundles up to this max. inner diameter.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, themolded element is made of an ash-forming and/or intumescent foam. Thismakes it possible to create the component lead-throughs prophylacticallyand in spite of them being filled, sealing them at temperatures startingfrom approx. 150° C. and/or with the effective flame against passage ofair and/or smoke and only passing the line elements through whennecessary.

Preferably the line element lead-through is designed as one piece.

In a preferred embodiment, the line element lead-through is provided onthe base surface with a flange-like edging that points radially outward.This prevents, for one thing, sliding the line element lead-through toofar into the opening, preventing the line element lead-through, forexample, from falling into the hollow space of drywalls. In addition,the edging additionally seals the component opening in the case of afire whether it is filled with a line element or not.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the molded elementof the line element lead-through is closed on its cover surface in orderto form a seal. In general, it does not matter whether the base or thecover surface of the molded element is closed, or both. Both permit asealing of the component passage that is sealed against fire and fluegas. However, a molded element that is closed on one side is simpler andless expensive to manufacture without any sacrifice to itsfunctionality, so this embodiment is highly preferred whereby it isespecially preferred if the molded element is closed on its coversurface.

The wall thickness of the molded element should be selected depending onthe size of the component passage to be sealed and accordingly the sizeof the line element lead-through to be used so that, for one thing,there is no negative effect on the flexibility of the line elementlead-through and, for another, a form-fitting seal of the componentpassage is ensured. However, the wall of the molded element must be atleast thick enough so that the cross section of the free opening to beequipped is no greater than 60% of the cross section of the componentopening. If the wall thickness is too great, the line elementlead-through is not form-fit on the component passage and the outer wallof the component, which means that sealing against flue gas is no longerensured.

Preferably the wall thickness d₁ is 5 to 20 mm, more preferably 8 to 16mm, but at least thick enough so that the 60% rule is not violated. Fora hole of 4 cm Ø (diameter), the area 12.6 cm² must be filled 7.5 cm²according to the 60% rule, this corresponds to a Ø of 3.1 cm. Thus thewall thickness must be at least 5 mm. For a hole with 6 cm Ø, the wallthickness would thus be 7 mm and for 10 cm Ø it would be 11 mm.

With a wall thickness of less than 5 mm, the material of the lineelement lead-through is not adequate to create adequate intumescence andan adequately stable ash crust for sealing the component passage in thecase of fire. In addition, during (subsequent) equipping of the lineelement lead-through with line elements, the molded element would besusceptible to cracks so sealing against flue gas could no longer beensured.

The wall thickness d₂ of the seal is less than the remaining molded partin order to make it easier to pierce it with a line element. However, itmust be selected such that after piercing, the seal lies form-fit on theline element so that in case of fire an adequate sealing against fluegas is ensured. Preferably the wall thickness is 2 to 8 mm, morepreferably 3 to 6 mm.

In another embodiment of the invention, the seal has predeterminedbreaking points to make it easier to pierce the seal. The specifiedbreaking points are distinguished in that the material of the moldedelement is thinner at these points than the wall, preferably between 1and 4 mm, and more preferably between 2 and 3 mm. In addition, thesespots have a specific shape. For example, the specified breaking pointscan be circular, star-shaped or cross-shaped, whereby the geometry ofthe specified breaking point is not restricted. For example, thespecified breaking point can also include several individual specifiedbreaking points, circles of different diameters lying inside each other.

In a preferred embodiment, the molded element is designed as a truncatedcone. Because of this, there is a certain flexibility when the lineelement lead-through is not completely filled, say with only one lineelement or a line element with a diameter that is smaller than theopening diameter of the line element, without having a negativeinfluence on the sealing against flue gas.

Preferably the seal is designed as a membrane.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the molded element isdesigned as a truncated cone. Because of the shape designed as atruncated cone, a case is achieved in which the user has a certainamount of freedom during selection of the line elements so that a lineelement lead-through can hold and seal at least one line element ofdifferent thickness/diameter.

In another alternative embodiment, the molded element is designed as acylinder. In this way, better sealing against flue gas can be achievedsince the longish element can better compensate or bridge unevenness inthe walls of the component passage.

The length 1 of the molded element is preferably 3 to 6 cm, and morepreferably 3.5 to 5 cm, no matter whether it is designed as a truncatedcone or a cylinder.

On its outside, the cylindrical molded element preferably has at leastone bead running around it radially that is arranged at a distance fromthe flange-like edging. When there are several beads, these are alsoarranged at a distance from each other. The (first) bead is arranged ata distance from the flange-like edging so that with a sandwich-typeplasterboard, a lock is formed directly behind it that prevents or willmake it more difficult for the line element lead-through to fall out orbe pulled out unintentionally when the line element is pulled through orif there is a light pull on the line element lead-through. In Germany,the thickness of a standard sandwich-type plasterboard panel is 12.5 mmand in the USA 16 mm, so the distance of the (first) bead from theflange-like edging is 12.5 mm or 16 mm, respectively, starting from theedge of the flange-like edging contacting the component. If thickerwalls are required, generally two (double panels) or more of thesandwich-type plasterboards are placed behind each other. In order toprevent pulling it out unintentionally from the double paneled wall, asecond bead is provided that according to one or more embodiments of thepresent invention is arranged at a distance from the first bead so thatthe distance of the second bead with respect to the flange-like edgingis the thickness of the paneling, namely 25 mm or 32 mm, respectively,starting from the edge of the flange-like edging contacting thecomponent. If no flange-like edging is provided, the distances aremeasured from the front edge of the line element lead-through.

In axial direction, the bead has a thickness from 4 to 6 mm. Thethickness in radial direction is 2 to 4 mm.

In a preferred embodiment of the cylindrical molded element, the seal inthe molded element is mounted at a distance from the end that isopposite the opening, i.e. that is located in the component hole in thecomponent after introduction of the line element lead-through. The partof the molded element projecting beyond the seal then forms a guide,which makes it easier to pass line elements from the inside of thedrywall.

The molded element is manufactured using mold-foaming with reactionfoams (RIM) according to DE 3917518, e.g. with Fomox® fire-resistantfoam or with the material HILTI CP 65GN that forms an insulating layer.Materials that can be used for the purposes of one or more embodimentsof the present invention are known from EP 0061024 A1, EP 0051106 A1, EP0043952 A1, EP 0158165 A1, EP 0116846A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,396,129A aswell as EP 1347549 A1. Preferably the molded element is made ofpolyurethane foam capable of intumescence as known from EP 0061024 A1,DE 3025309 A1, DE 3041731 A1, DE 3302416 A and DE 3411 327 A1.

Exemplary embodiments according to one or more embodiments of thepresent invention will be explained in the following with the use of thedrawings.

FIG. 1 shows a line element lead-through of a molded element 1 designedas a truncated cone with a flange-like edging 2 that points radiallyoutward according to one embodiment of the invention in which the basesurface of the truncated cone forms the opening 3 and the closed coversurface of the truncated cone forms the seal 4. In this figure, thespecified breaking point 5 in the form of a star can be seen that isdesigned on the seal 4.

FIG. 2 shows the truncated cone shape of the molded element 1 with alength 1, wherein the material thickness d₁ of the edging 2 is notincluded, a wall thickness of the molded element d₁, and a wallthickness d₂ of the seal 4. The thinner specified breaking point 5 thatis arranged in the center of the seal is also indicated opposite thewall thickness d₂ of the seal 4.

FIG. 3 shows the barrier of an opening 7 in a component 6 with lineelement lead-through according to FIG. 1 according to one or moreembodiments of the present invention, through which a line element 8 inthe form of a cable is passed. From the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 inwhich the outer diameter of the molded element 1, in which the edging 2is not considered, is slightly larger than the diameter D of thecomponent opening 7, it is clear how the excess dimension of the outerdiameter of the molded element leads to a greater contact surface 10between the inner wall 9 of the component opening 7, whereby goodsealing against flue gas is achieved, and on the other, a frictionfitting self-locking of the line element lead-through is achieved. Thus,the line element lead-through can be fastened adequately tightly in thecomponent opening 7 without additional tools, whereby falling out isprevented and unintended pulling out is made more difficult. Inaddition, it can be seen how the seal 4 seals the line element 8.

FIG. 4 shows a line element lead-through of a molded element 1 designedas a cylinder with a flange-like edging 2, an opening 3, a seal 4 andtwo beads 11 and 12 according to a second alternative embodimentaccording to the invention.

FIG. 5 shows the barrier of an opening 7 in a component 6 that is madeof two sandwich-type plasterboards (double paneled drywall) with theline element lead-through according to the embodiment according to FIG.4 when equipped with a line element 8. It can be seen from this that thesecond bead 12 engages behind the second plasterboard panel and thusforms a lock against unintentional pulling out of the line elementlead-through. Because of the elastically deformable material of whichthe molded element 1 is made of, the first bead 11 is compressed,whereby additionally a clamping of the line element lead-through withthe inner wall 7 of the component opening 6 is achieved.

While particular elements, embodiments, and applications of the presentinvention have been shown and described, it is understood that theinvention is not limited thereto because modifications may be made bythose skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoingteaching. It is therefore contemplated by the appended claims to coversuch modifications and incorporate those features which come within thespirit and scope of the invention.

1. A line element lead-through sealed against fire and flue gas forcomponent openings, said line element lead-though including: a moldedelement designed as a sleeve of an elastic deformable intumescentmaterial that is closed on at least one side with the characteristicthat the opening cross section of the sleeve corresponds to maximum 60%of the cross section of the component opening.
 2. A line elementlead-through according to claim 1, wherein the molded element isdesigned in one piece from intumescent material.
 3. A line elementlead-through according to claim 1, wherein the molded element isprovided on its face surface with a flange-like edging that pointsradially outward.
 4. A line element lead-through according to claim 1,wherein the molded element is closed at its cover surface in order toform a seal.
 5. A line element lead-through according to claim 4,wherein the material of the seal is thinner, at least in some areas,than the rest of the molded element.
 6. A line element lead-throughaccording to claim 4, wherein the seal is designed as a membrane.
 7. Aline element lead-through according to claim 1, wherein the wallthickness of the molded element is 5 to 20 mm.
 8. A line elementlead-through according to claim 5, wherein the wall thickness of theseal that is thinner at least in some areas is 2 to 8 mm.
 9. A lineelement lead-through according to claim 5, wherein the thinner areas ofthe seal also have specified breaking points.
 10. A line elementlead-through according to claim 9, wherein the specified breaking pointshave a wall thickness from 1 to 4 mm.
 11. A line element lead-throughaccording to claim 1, wherein the molded element is designed as atruncated cone.
 12. A line element lead-through according to claim 1,wherein the molded element is designed as a cylinder.
 13. A line elementlead-through according to claim 12, wherein on its outside, the moldedelement has at least one bead running radially around the outside thatis arranged at a distance from the flange-like edging that pointsradially outward.
 14. A line element lead-through according to claim 13,wherein the distance between the bead and the flange-like edging is oneof 12.5 mm, 16 mm, and a multiple of 12.5 mm or 16 mm.
 15. A lineelement lead-through according to claim 13, wherein the bead has athickness of 4 to 6 mm in axial direction.
 16. A line elementlead-through according to claim 13, wherein the bead has a thickness inradial direction of 2 to 4 mm.
 17. A line element lead-through accordingto claim 1, wherein the molded element is made of polyurethane foam withintumescence capability.